[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56115-56116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27758]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability; Record of Decision, New Bedford Whaling 
National Historic Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: The National Park Service announces the availability of the 
Record of Decision of the final impact statement for the New Bedford 
Whaling National Historical Park General Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: The National Park Service has prepared the Record of Decision 
of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the New Bedford Whaling 
National Historical Park General Management Plan pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the regulations 
promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality at 40 CFR 1505.2. A 
Record of Decision is a concise statement of the decision made, the 
basis for the decision, and the background of the project, including 
the decision making process, other alternatives considered, and public 
involvement. Concurrent with adopting this Record of Decision on the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement, New Bedford Whaling National 
Historical Park General Management Plan is approved.
    The National Park Service began planning for the management of New 
Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in 1997. The National Park 
Service presented and evaluated three management scenarios (the 
Proposed Management Option and 2 Alternatives) in a Draft General 
Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The draft plan 
underwent sixty days of public and interagency review. After 
considering public and agency comment, the National Park Service 
produced the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which was available 
to the public for thirty days beginning on July 2, 2001. The National 
Park Service took no action for the thirty-day period of public 
availability, after which time the Park Service prepared the Record of 
Decision, selecting the Proposed Management Option as the final plan. 
In the selected option the National Park Service would share 
responsibility with its partners for protecting the park's historic 
resources and offering effective programming to the visiting public. 
The National Park Service would bring the story of New Bedford and 
American whaling to a national audience. Public education, 
interpretation, research, and technical

[[Page 56116]]

training aimed at generating understanding and fostering greater 
resource stewardship would be emphasized through National Park Service 
activities. Under this management option, the National Park Service's 
role and responsibilities would be expanded with regards to historic 
preservation and universal access. The Record of Decision is now 
approved and available to the public.
    Availability: Copies of the Record of Decision are available at New 
Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 33 William Street, New 
Bedford, Massachusetts. For further information, please contact the 
Superintendent, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 33 
William Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740; voice at (508) 996-
4469; fax at (508) 994-8922.

    Dated: September 14, 2001.
Chrysandra Walter,
Deputy Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 01-27758 Filed 11-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M